By Isiaka Mustapha, Editor-in-Chief, People’s Security Monitor

The Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, has assured residents of the state that the police will deploy a robust security architecture to protect lives and property before, during and after the 2027 general elections.Bakori gave the assurance on Saturday while attending the 2026 Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Kano State Chapter, where he was the special guest of honour.

The police commissioner said the command was committed to maintaining peace, protecting the democratic process and ensuring that residents could exercise their constitutional voting rights without fear, intimidation or violence.“We will employ robust security architecture to guarantee peace before, during and after the 2027 general elections,” Bakori said.

He explained that the command had commenced stakeholder engagements, training and public sensitisation programmes as part of its preparations to address potential security threats associated with the elections.According to him, the initiatives involve youth groups, political actors, media practitioners and other relevant stakeholders whose cooperation is considered essential to preventing electoral violence and maintaining public order.

Bakori emphasised that early engagement with political stakeholders and young people was necessary to discourage political thuggery, the spread of inflammatory messages and other activities capable of disrupting the electoral process.He also disclosed that the command would sustain intelligence led operations and strengthen collaboration with other security agencies to identify, prevent and respond to emerging threats before they escalate into violence.

The commissioner expressed concern about the dangers posed by hate speech, fake news and what he described as communication warfare, warning that the misuse of information could heighten political tension, fuel public anxiety and undermine peaceful coexistence.He stressed the importance of responsible communication, urging media practitioners and public relations professionals to promote credible information, professional ethics and messages that encourage peace rather than deepen political divisions.

The police chief also underscored the need for political parties, candidates, supporters and community leaders to conduct themselves responsibly throughout the electoral period. He maintained that maintaining security was a collective responsibility that required the active participation of government institutions, civil society organisations and members of the public.

The engagement with the NIPR Kano State Chapter provided an opportunity to highlight the role of strategic communication in preventing misinformation, managing public concerns and promoting peaceful political participation. As preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum, the assurance from the Kano State Police Command signals its intention to prioritise preventive security measures, intelligence gathering and cooperation among relevant stakeholders.Residents are expected to play an important role by providing credible information to security agencies, avoiding the spread of unverified reports and rejecting attempts by political actors or other groups to incite violence.

The success of the planned security arrangements will depend not only on police deployment and inter agency cooperation but also on the willingness of political parties, community leaders, the media and the electorate to uphold peace and respect the law.Bakori’s assurance therefore places the protection of lives and property, the prevention of electoral violence and the preservation of public confidence at the centre of the command’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.